Recent News

Music lovers will be treated to an up-close and personal experience as East Central University and Oklahoma Heritage Bank present “The Legendary Violins of Stradivarius and Guarnerius” on Friday, Dec. 1, at 5:30 p.m. in the Ataloa Theatre of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.

As president of the National Association of Veterans Upward Bound (NAVUB) programs, East Central University’s own Mary Meeks is all about making sure veterans’ higher educational needs are being met and that the VUB program is growing to meet those needs.

Meeks, who has been with ECU since 1995 and director of the VUB program since 1999, recently assumed the NAVUB presidency after serving as vice president for the group.

“It’s kind of been a whirlwind, but I’m excited to be able to serve for the national organization,” said Meeks. “It’s a special time to be serving.”

The Elephant Man, presented by the East Central University Theatre Department, will take place Nov. 16-18, at 7:30 p.m. each night in the Chalmers Herman Theatre of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.

The Elephant Man, by Bernard Pomerance and presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., is based on the last few years of the life of John (born Joseph) Merrick in London from 1894 to his death in 1890. Deformed by Proteus Syndrome, Merrick became a star freak attraction in traveling side shows until he was abandoned by his manager.

Wax figures come to life as East Central University Showtime presents A Night at the Wax Museum, Friday Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dorothy I. Summers Theatre of Science Hall.

Matinee performances are being conducted on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 9-10, at 10 a.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $9 for senior citizens and non-ECU students. ECU alumni receive a $1 discount. Students in grades 7-12 get in for $7 and children 12 and under are $5. Admission is free for all ECU students, faculty and staff with ECU ID.

The Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, hosted by the East Central University Human Resources Club and other community partners and student organizations, is set for Monday, Nov. 20, from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the Pontotoc County Agri-Plex, 1710 N. Broadway, in Ada.

The dinner is free to all community members while supplies last. The format will be the same as past years. However, meals will not be delivered.

Approximately 1,500 people were served a Thanksgiving dinner last year, according to Kelley Gutierrez, president of the ECU Human Resources Club.

An innovative way of bringing several academic disciplines together on Oct. 17, came to fruition recently with Simulation Labs at East Central University.

Upper-level students from disciplines such as social work, criminal justice, nursing and legal studies came together to work in mock multi-disciplinary teams to deal with real-life, complex issues, according to Amy Ward, social program director at ECU.

ECU SCREENS continues its fourth season with William Shakespeare’s gender-bending comedy Twelfth Night, at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, in East Central University’s Raymond J. Estep Multimedia Center of the Bill S. Cole University Center.

Open to the public, the screening is $10 for members of the community and $5 for students.

Featuring Tamsin Greig as a transformed Malvolia, a role traditionally played by men, this joyous new production of Shakespeare’s classic comedy is “masses of fun, a delicious crowd pleaser,” according to Time Out: London.

East Central University's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students, faculty, staff, and community
interact to educate students for life in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society. Within its service area,
East Central University provides leadership for economic development and cultural enhancement.